Biden Administration Races to Allocate $6 Billion Military Aid for Ukraine Before Deadline

The Biden administration is urgently negotiating with Congress to allocate $6 billion in military aid for Ukraine before a September 30 deadline. Ukrainian forces face high stakes as they advance into Russia's Kursk region while defending Pokrovsk. The PDA serves as the primary channel for U.S. weapons transfer to Ukraine.

The Biden administration is currently in urgent negotiations with Congress to utilize $6 billion in military aid for Ukraine before a crucial deadline on September 30, sources told Reuters.

This comes at a tense moment for Ukrainian forces, who are making strides into Russia's Kursk region and defending Pokrovsk from Russian advances. The Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which is part of a $61 billion aid package approved in April, allows the U.S. president to dispatch defense materials in response to emergencies.

The Biden administration has primarily used the PDA to send military equipment to Ukraine, with the most recent package announced on August 23, valued at $125 million, consisting of air-defense missiles and other hardware. With the PDA funds nearly exhausted, officials are racing to find ways to use the remaining $6 billion before it expires on September 30, the fiscal year-end.

To extend the PDA beyond the deadline, the State Department aims to attach an extension to a Continuing Resolution, an emergency spending bill needed to avert a government shutdown. Congressional aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, assured a solution would be found given strong bipartisan support for Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine is expected to visit the U.S. this month, presenting a "victory plan" and attending the Ramstein group meeting, which includes key arms suppliers.

(With inputs from agencies.)